All Eyes On Amels

A tour of the Amels yard unveils a shipyard that's clearly running on all cylinders.

In the wake of recent deliveries of the 83-meter Here Comes The Sun—Amels’ largest yacht built to date—and the 55-meter Driftwood, the 20th in Amels' 180 line to be delivered, it remains business as usual at the shipyard. While ten projects are currently underway, perhaps the biggest buzz around the yard is about the builder’s first Amels 188 (57.7 meters), which will feature Amels’ hybrid switchboard solution, making her—at time of publishing—the first Tier 3 clean-certified yacht in the world. Exterior design is by Tim Heywood.

One of the first photos of the new Amels 188, in production in Vlissingen.

“She’s a large yacht for her length,” said Heywood. “The optimum form of elegance and enjoyment. You always feel close to the sea thanks to generous outdoor spaces.”

In addition to her 970 gross tonnage, other features include a huge owner’s suite with a with a fold-out balcony; a full-beam bridge-deck VIP; an elevator servicing all decks; a touch-and-go helipad for an Airbus H135 or similar; and a beach club with sauna, steam shower, gym and dive gear that is also accessible by the interior. The 188 is scheduled for delivery before summer in 2018. For more on the Amels 188, visit: amels 188.com

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Also in progress at Amels:

· The latest 55-meter Amels 180. Delivery summer 2018.

· Amels 180 Lili. Unique Tim Heywood exterior styling, extended sundeck and a bridge-deck owner’s suite. (Delivers end of June 2017 and will be available for charter through Imperial.)

Amels, which is located in the Dutch port of Vlissingen, also indicated it will soon be unveiling a new Amels full-custom concept, which would become the first Amels over 100 meters in length.

Amels' 83-meter Here Comes The Sun

Damen

Included in the tour was a sea trial aboard Damen’s new flagship yacht support vessel, Game Changer. Damen seems to have become the established leader in the rapidly growing niche, with a total of 11 yacht support vessels delivered to date or in construction. It’s easy to see why the yacht support vessel market is experiencing such a boom, as the demand rises for more cutting-edge toys and greater access to off-the-beaten-path cruising destinations. The 227-foot (69.15-meter) Game Changer showed off its performance capabilities with an eye-popping 21-knots and comfortable stability.

Damen's new 227-foot yacht support vessel Game Changer

She was most recently spotted on the Thames in London, where she spent three days promoting the builder’s range of yacht support vessels, which also prompted serious discussions about regulations involving safe helicopter operations.

Damen's new 227-foot yacht support vessel Game Changer in London

“Game Changer made a big impression on the owners, captains, brokers and designers who joined us on board, particularly with its helicopter capability and all-weather protected hangar,” said Amels Commercial Director Rose Damen. “When it comes to superyacht helipad design and operation, many in the industry are re-examining accepted practice and rethinking the level of risk that we are asking owners to accept for their family and friends.”

Damen's new 227-foot yacht support vessel Game Changer

Game Changer offers a fully certified LY3 helideck suitable for charter or commercial use. She can accommodate larger helicopters with 5-ton maximum take-off weight and D14 rotor diameter. These long-range aircraft can land safely night and day in a wider weather window. Lowering the helicopter into the hangar protects it from the elements so it can refuel on board and be made available for take-off without disrupting the mothership. The hangar and refueling systems—featuring Jet A-1 fuel tanks holding up to 10,000 liters—are built to the highest safety and fire-fighting standards.

In addition to Game Changer’s helicopter capability, she also offers a number of purpose-built yachting features and quality finish.

“The yacht support concept … is still a relatively new phenomenon in the industry,” said Damen Product Director Mark Vermeulen. “[These vessels] are a massive leap forward in capability for the growing number of owners who want to do more with more equipment, more toys and more staff. Our vessels are perfectly equipped to support wide-ranging superyacht operations, but with a significantly lower total cost of ownership than acquiring a larger yacht. Plus, owners get all the benefits of flexible operations and privacy. That’s why we call it the ‘Smart Stretch.’”

Game Changer's deck layout

Game Changer is the fourth Yacht Support vessel in the 70-meter segment, across the broader range based on Damen’s patented Sea Axe range of offshore vessels, of which Damen has sold more than 200 hulls. Damen plans to have another yacht support vessel on display this year in Monaco.